Modern foods in the supermarket are no more than a cocktail of chemicals I agree with the statement above. Before I elaborate further on this topic, we have to clarify and understand the definition of the statement first. Modern foods in supermarket mostly are processed foods from raw materials. The examples of modern foods are canned food and frozen food. It differs from traditional food from the aspects of nutritional value, flavor, preservation techniques, shelf-life and etc. Whereas a cocktail of chemicals refers to the mixture of different chemicals. In general, fresh food that has not been processed other than by washing and simple kitchen preparation, may be expected to contain a higher proportion of naturally-occurring vitamins, fiber and minerals than an equivalent product processed by the food industry. Vitamin C, for example, is destroyed by heat and therefore canned fruits have a lower content of vitamin C than fresh ones. Food processing can lower the nutritional value of foods, and introduce hazards not encountered with naturally-occurring products. Processed foods often include food additives, such as flavorings and texture-enhancing agents, which may have little or no nutritive value, or be unhealthy. Preservatives added or created during processing to extend the 'shelf-life' of commercially-available products, such as nitrites or sulphites, may cause adverse health effects. Use of low-cost ingredients that mimic the properties of natural ingredients (e.g. cheap chemically-hardened vegetable oils in place of more-expensive natural saturated fats or cold-pressed oils) have been shown to cause severe health problems, but are still in widespread use because of cost concerns and lack of consumer knowledge about the effects of substitute ingredients. Processed foods often have a higher ratio of calories to other essential nutrients than unprocessed foods, a phenomenon referred to as "empty calories". So-called junk food, produced to satisfy consumer demand for convenience and low cost, are most often mass-produced processed food products. Besides that, all kinds of food additives are added including artificial sweeteners, coloring agents and preservatives such as sodium benzoate. These are added in food to improve the quality of food. However, these are all chemicals. Another trend in modern food is the production of convenience food. Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of consumption. Products designated as convenience foods are often prepared food stuffs that can be sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes; as room temperature, shelf-stable products; or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation, typically just heating. These products often are sold in portion controlled, single serve packaging designed for portability for "on-the-go" or later eating. Convenience food can include products such as candy; beverages such as soft drinks, juices and milk; fast food; nuts, fruits and vegetables in fresh or preserved states; processed meats and cheeses; and canned products such as soups and pasta dishes.
Most convenience foods on the market today are laden with saturated fats, sodium and sugar and provide little to no nutritional value. In conclusion, from the explanation above, we can see that modern foods nowadays are processed by adding chemicals to serve different kinds of demands in terms of quality and quantity. Hence, modern foods are mostly products of chemicals besides its own raw material.
Modern foods in the supermarket are no more than a cocktail of chemicals
I agree with the statement above. Before I elaborate further on this topic, we have to clarify and understand the definition of the statement first. Modern foods in supermarket mostly are processed foods from raw materials. The examples of modern foods are canned food and frozen food. It differs from traditional food from the aspects of nutritional value, flavor, preservation techniques, shelf-life and etc. Whereas a cocktail of chemicals refers to the mixture of different chemicals.
In general, fresh food that has not been processed other than by washing and simple kitchen preparation, may be expected to contain a higher proportion of naturally-occurring vitamins, fiber and minerals than an equivalent product processed by the food industry. Vitamin C, for example, is destroyed by heat and therefore canned fruits have a lower content of vitamin C than fresh ones.
Food processing can lower the nutritional value of foods, and introduce hazards not encountered with naturally-occurring products. Processed foods often include food additives, such as flavorings and texture-enhancing agents, which may have little or no nutritive value, or be unhealthy. Preservatives added or created during processing to extend the 'shelf-life' of commercially-available products, such as nitrites or sulphites, may cause adverse health effects. Use of low-cost ingredients that mimic the properties of natural ingredients (e.g. cheap chemically-hardened vegetable oils in place of more-expensive natural saturated fats or cold-pressed oils) have been shown to cause severe health problems, but are still in widespread use because of cost concerns and lack of consumer knowledge about the effects of substitute ingredients.
Processed foods often have a higher ratio of calories to other essential nutrients than unprocessed foods, a phenomenon referred to as "empty calories". So-called junk food, produced to satisfy consumer demand for convenience and low cost, are most often mass-produced processed food products.
Besides that, all kinds of food additives are added including artificial sweeteners, coloring agents and preservatives such as sodium benzoate. These are added in food to improve the quality of food. However, these are all chemicals.
Another trend in modern food is the production of convenience food. Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of consumption. Products designated as convenience foods are often prepared food stuffs that can be sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes; as room temperature, shelf-stable products; or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation, typically just heating.
These products often are sold in portion controlled, single serve packaging designed for portability for "on-the-go" or later eating. Convenience food can include products such as candy; beverages such as soft drinks, juices and milk; fast food; nuts, fruits and vegetables in fresh or preserved states; processed meats and cheeses; and canned products such as soups and pasta dishes.
Most convenience foods on the market today are laden with saturated fats, sodium and sugar and provide little to no nutritional value.
In conclusion, from the explanation above, we can see that modern foods nowadays are processed by adding chemicals to serve different kinds of demands in terms of quality and quantity. Hence, modern foods are mostly products of chemicals besides its own raw material.